Focusing on REAL Connections: Updates from the REAL Council
REAL experiences have four characteristics at their core: hands-on learning in a discipline, reflective practice, mentoring, and integrative or connected learning.
Two of the biggest barriers to students engaging in advanced REAL experiences is information on how to find opportunities and engaging mentors. Read below to see how the REAL Council workgroups are focusing their work to make transformative REAL experiences accessible to all students:
Update from the REAL External Engagement Committee
Our committee has set two goals for 2021-22, and we are well on our way!
- A two-part audit of existing mentoring programs at VCU, starting with a short survey in December followed by in-depth interviews with programs identified as exemplars in spring 2022
- A guide that outlines existing resources and best practices for mentoring, informed by the audit
At this point, the committee has drafted and distributed the survey and created a draft inventory of existing programs. The survey went to stakeholders on December 14 with requests for input in January, and then we will proceed with the next steps of the work in the spring semester.
Update from the REAL Internal Constituencies Committee
One of our major goals as a committee is to increase use of Student Opportunity Center. In the spring, we will be working with VCU ALT Lab to create short, instructional videos highlighting the benefits of SOC. These videos will serve as a tutorial library for SOC, and can be shared with students, advisors and faculty.
Update from the REAL Co-Curricular Committee
Over the course of the fall semester, our committee welcomed four new members that represent the broad landscape of VCU co-curricular experiences; moreover, we have received and reviewed 29 co-curricular experience applications.
In the spring, we are looking forward to:
- Engaging in the continued development of Student Opportunity Center
- Focusing on the assessment of approved co-curricular experiences
- Executing workshops and ongoing training for co-curricular units
Update from the REAL Curricular Committee
The REAL Curricular Committee was thrilled to finish the semester having approved all 20 of the applications we received this fall; moreover, we were able to endorse the work of the co-curricular committee to allow VCU students to use their co-curricular experiences towards their degree. This was a challenging semester, and we are lucky to have such an amazing group of dedicated committee members.
As we enter the spring semester, we look forward to slowing down and thinking critically about the process and procedures needed to renew REAL attributes. In doing so, we hope to create long-term sustainability for our committee.
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